Shipping container for canned goods or the like



July 26, 1938. 3, A, w rr r AL 2,124,808

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR CANNED GOODS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. c: 2%:

ATTORNEY y 26, 1938- c.-.A. WHITE ET AL 2,124,808

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR CANNED GOODS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 2 49 I 22" I I wai u 1 I M A oRNEy' July 26, 1938, Q W n-gET L 2,124,808

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR CANNED GOODS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 14, 1936 3Sheets-Sheet 3 1 N VENTOR. yam. GM

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Olarence A. White,Delair, N. J., and Earl L.

Regin, mesne assignments,

San Francisco, Calif., assignors,

to Kieckhefer Container Company, Delair, N. J., a corporation ofDelaware Application September 14, 1936, Serial No. 100,654

16 Claims. (Cl. 229-27) This invention relates to improvements inshipping containers for canned goods or the like. Heretofore cannedgoods has been packed in fiber or corrugated board shipping containers,and no practical and economical means has been provided for separatingof the individual cans within the shipping container or for preventingthe cans from denting one another during shipment. Packers of foodproducts are constantly bothered by complaints as to the condition inwhich their cans arrive at the retailers, and these packers are not onlydesirous of eliminating these complaints, but also their products on theretailers shelves. This difficulty is particularly serious in connectionwith products such as canned pineapple, which are shipped unusualdistances and wherein the transfer of the shipping containers from onemedium of transportation to another is necessary. 7

Various separating devices have heretofore been manufactured for use inpacking commodities of different shape and nature than the articles forwhich the present invention is intended, but these prior structures arenot suitable for the packing of cylindrical articles having fiat ends,such as cans, wherein for the purpose of economy in shipment, the endsof the cans of one layer must be in registration with the ends of thecans of the layer above and wherein no substantial amount of lost spacebetween adjacent cans of the same layer is permitted.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved shipping container having novel means for separating canstherein and for minimizing the possibility of the cans denting oneanother during shipment and delivery.

' A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedshipping container for the purpose described, having memberspositionable at the top and bottom of the container between the endflaps thereof and provided with inwardly projecting can-separatingmeans, said,

members being cooperable, in certain instances,

' with specially constructed end flaps in performing said separatingfunction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shippingcontainer having canseparating members cooperable with speciallyconstructed end closure flaps, wherein the side closure flaps areretained in conventional form so that conventional sealing methods maybe employed in closing the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shippingcontainer as above deof improving the appearance of scribed wherein thecan-separating members not only perform a separating function but alsoserve to brace the container and render the same more rigid.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a shipping container forcanned goods or the like wherein the container proper is formed from infiat form to the packer; wherein the process of packing cans in thecontainer is relatively simple; and wherein the weight of the packedshipping container is not appreciably increased.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved shipping container for canned goods or the like and all itsparts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalentsthereof.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvention wherein the same reference numerals designate the same partsin all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container with the topclosure flaps open, the dotand-dash lines showing the end flaps foldedto separating position and showing the auxiliary separating member inposition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said container with the end flaps and auxiliaryseparating device in position and with the side closure flaps open;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 2, the side closureflaps being in closing position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of auxiliary separating memberfor use inthe top of the container;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one form of auxiliary separating devicefor use in the bottom of the container;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a shipping container with a different form ofauxiliary separatingmember in position;

Fig. 7 is aperspective view of said modified the end flaps in separatingposition and with the auxiliary separating member in place;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the auxiliary separator used inconjunction with this form of shipping container;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line |3|3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line |4--|4 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of another form of separating member;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view throughthe upper portion of a container showing how the separator of Fig. 15may be employed;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of still another form of separator;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view throughthe upper portion of a container showing how the separator of Fig. 17may be employed;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of another form of separating member;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a container with the end flaps and sideclosure flaps open, showing the separator of Fig. 19 in position;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a smaller shipping container showing aseparating member positioned therein and particularly designed for thissize of case; and

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the containerof Fig. 21, the container flaps being in closing position.

Referring more particularly, first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of thedrawings, the numeral l5 designates a shipping container of theconventional form for holding two layers of cans, each layeraccommodating one dozen cans. The container is preferably made of eitherfiber board or corrugated board and comprises four foldably connectedwall portions I6, there being top closure flaps ll, l8, l9 and 28foldably connected to the upper edges of said walls I6, and similarbottom closure flaps 2|, 22, 23 and 24 foldably connected to the loweredges of said side walls ii. In order to produce the shipping containerproper no change is necessary in the present box-forming machineryexcept that lines of scoring 25 and 26 must be formed in the flaps l9and 20 respectively as shown in Fig. 1 to provide bendable flanges 21and 28; and the corresponding bottom closure flaps are preferably cutoff short as at 29 and 38 (see Fig. 3).

A top separating member 33 (see Fig. 4) may be formed from a flat sheetof fiber board or corrugated board scored along parallel lines 34, 34'and 35 to provide for folding of the member 33 to the condition of Fig.4 so as to form a depending separating flange or ridge 36 of doublethickness.

A similar auxiliary separating ,member 31 for use in the bottom of thecontainer (see Fig. 5) is also provided, and said member has its centralportion formed with parallel lines of scoring 38,

39 and 48 so that the member is foldable to the position of Fig. 5 toprovide an upwardly pro- Y jecting flange or ridge 4| of doublethickness. This bottom auxiliary separating member is also preferablyformedwith additional lines of scoring 42 and 43 adjacent opposite edgeportions to provide upwardly bent edge'flanges 44 and 45 respectively.

To pack this type of shipping container the bottom closure flaps 2| and22 are folded to the position of Figs. 1 and 3, the inner surfaces beingcovered with an adhesive. The other pair of bottom flaps 23 and 24 whichhave already been folded inwardly to the position of Fig. 3 are thusunited to the flaps 2| and 22 by means of the adhesive. Next, theauxiliary separating member 31 for use in the bottom of the container isfolded to the position of Fig. 5 and inserted in the manner shown inFig. 3, the flanges 44 and 45 closely engaging the edges of the endflaps as at "29 and 38. The cans forming the bottom layer are thenplaced in position to form four parallel rows 46, 41, 48 and 49, therebeing three cans in each row. It is apparent that the row 45 isseparated from the row 41 by the flange 45, that the row 41 is separatedfrom the row 48 by the flange 4|, and that the row 48 is separated fromthe row 49 by the flange 44. It is also apparent that the flanges fitsnugly between the rows of cans to leave no room for shifting movement.

Next the 'cans forming the upper layer are placed in the containertoform four rows 58, 5|, 52 and 53. The upper closure flap 28 is then bentinwardly from the full line position of Fig. 1

to the dot-and-dash line position therein, the

flange 28 being inserted between the rows of cans 58 and 5| as shownmore clearly in Fig. 3. The other closure flap i9 is folded inwardly ina similar manner with its flange 21 inserted between the rows of cans 52and 53. The top auxiliary separating member 33 is then placed on top ofthe rows of cans 5| and 52 with the flange or rib 36 separating the rowsof cans 5| and 52. Next, adhesive is brushed over the tops of the flapsl9 and 28 and over the top of the auxiliary member 33, and the closureflaps I1 and I8 are then folded to closing position into contact withtheadheslvely coated surfaces.

In Fig. 6 a very similar arrangement is illustrated wherein theauxiliary separating members 54 are of slightly different form as shownmore clearly in Fig. '7. These members 54 are scored in a direction atright-angles to the direction of scoring of the separating member 33 sothat they are foldable to provide inwardly extending flanges 55 and. 56,which flanges are adapted to separate the six center cans into threegroups of two cans each as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The bottom of thecontainer of Fig. 6 may be constructed in an identical manner to thetop, using one of the auxiliary separating members 54.

In Fig. 8 a slight modification ofthe separating member. 54 is shownwherein the member is die-cut as'at 51, 58 and 59 to provide inwardlyfoldable tongues .60, Si and 62, which tongues extend at right-angles tothe flanges 55 and 56. It is apparent that the separating member of Fig.8 will provide individual separation of the six center cans in eachlayer due to the fact that the tongues 68, 6| and 62 provide foradditional separation.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive, it is apparentthat a construction has here been provided wherein' each can isseparated from every other adjacent can in the same layer. The shippingcontainer proper is of identical construction to that shown in Fig. 1-

except that the end closure flaps l9 and 28' at the top, and the closureflaps 23' and 24' at the bottom are each die-cut as at 63 to provideinwardly bendable tongues or flanges 84. The top and bottom'auxiliaryseparating members may be identical and are shown in Fig. 12 andindicated by the numeral 85. Each of these members is scored centrallyalong three parallel lines 88, 61 and 88 to provide for the formation ofa flange or ridge 88 of double thickness. Each separating member isfurther die cut as at 18 to provide for the formation of inwardlyfoldable tongues H, which tongues extend at right-angles to the flange68.

This container is packed and closed in the same manner as used inconnectionwith the form shown in Fig. 1 except that at the bottom, theindividual cans of the row 48 are separated from one another by theinwardly extending tongues 64 in connection with the bottom flap 24; theindividual cans of the row 48' are separated by the tongues 84 inconnection with the closure flap 23; and the individual cans of the rows41' and 48' are separated by the tongues ll of the bottom auxiliaryseparating member 85. The cans of the rows 58,.5l', 52 and 53' formingthe top layer are also individually separated in a similar manner by thetongues 84 of the top flaps l8 and 28' and by the tongues ll of the topauxiliary separating member. As a result of this form of the invention,it is apparent that each can is maintained out of contact with It isalso ap- I adjacent cans in the same layer. parent that all of theflanges and tongues fit snugly between the cans to prevent shifting ofthe latter.

Theseparating member shown in Fig. 15 consists of a flat section offiberboard, corrugated board, pr other suitable material 12 die-cut asat 13 to provide an inwardly bendable tongue 14. This tongue isinsertable between the rows of cans I5 and 18 (see Fig. 16) of acontainer of the same type as shown in Fig. 1 and having end closureflaps I1 and I8 provided with inwardly bendable flanges l8 and 88respectively. The flange I9 is insertable between the rows of cans 8|and I5, and the flange 88 is insertable between the rows of cans 82 and16. The side closure flaps 83 united to the separating member 12 and tothe closure flaps I1 and 18 in the same manner as heretofore explainedin connection with Fig. 1.

The separating member 12' shown in Fig. 17 is of similar form to theseparating member 12 shown of Fig. 15 and is die cut'as at 18' to forman inwardly bendable tongue 14'. This form of separating member,however, is also provided with inwardly bendable edge flanges 88 for usein the manner shown in Fig. 18 in connection with end closure flaps 11and a container having its 18 cut short and lacking the inwardlybendable flanges 18 and 88 of the ffim shown in Fig. 16.

Referring to Fig. 19, the separating member 85 shown therein is die-cutinwardly bendable tongues 81 for separating the individual cans of thetwo middle rows as shown in Fig. 20. A separate transversetongue-forming member 88, preferably L-shaped in crosssection, isconnected in any desired manner to the member 85. For example, themember 85 may beslotted-as at 88, andthe member'88 inserted in the slotas illustrated in Fig. 19. The member 88 may also be glued or stitchedin position. This type of separating member may be used in conjunctionwith the container of Fig. 9, or the container of Fig. 9 maybe modifiedas shown in Fig. 20, to employ diamond-shaped tongues 88 which areformed by die-cutting the end flaps as at 8|. Thus, the container ofFig.

are then folded over and adhesively' as at 88 to provide 20 provides forseparation of all of the individual cans from one another.

The separating member 82 illustrated in Fig. 21, is particularly adaptedfor use in a shipping container having only three rows of cans, such asthe container 88. The member 82 -is of a length substantially the sameas the width of the container and is formed with edge flanges 94insertable between the rows of cans. The end flaps 85 of the containerare of such length that the free edges 88 abut the flanges 84 sothatthere is a continuous'surface to which the container side flaps 81 maybe glued, as shown in Fig. 22.

It is apparent that the structure is simple to manufacture, that theshipping containers proper may be shipped in collapsed-form, and thatthe separators may be shipped flat in stacks. It is also apparent thatthe packing of cans in the containers is relatively simple and that thecans will be efiectively held against shifting movement and that damagefrom denting will be reduced to a minimum. It is also apparent that thecontainer is additionally strengthened and braced by the separatingmembers, and that conventional sealing methods may be employed.

While it is a feature of the invention that this method of canseparation may be employed in connection with shipping containers ofstandard construction, with but slight modification, it is of coursepossible to utilize the principle of the invention in connection withshipping containers of various other forms and of various capacities.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, itis obvious that various.

changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention, and

all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of theclaims.

What we claim is:

1'. A shipping container forcanned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body portion havingtransverse portions which terminate short of one another when said flapsare folded over the contents of the container, said transverse portionsbeing provided with inwardly projected flanges positioned for insertionbetween certain cans within the container, a member covering thecontents of the container not covered by said end flaps, and sideclosure flaps foldable over said end closure flaps and over saidlast-mentiOned member.

' 2- A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, closure flaps in connection with said body portion, one pair ofclosure flaps having end portions bent inwardly and positioned forinsertion between certain of the cans within the container, separatingmeans positioned between said inwardly bent end portions and havinginwardly extending means poone of said closure flaps being provided withan inwardly projecting flange positioned for insertion between certainof the cans Within the container to maintain the same out of contactwith one another, and auxiliary separating means positionable adjacentsaid closure flaps and having means projecting between other cans withinthe container.

4. A shipping container of a size to hold one or more layers of canswith four rows of cans in each layer comprising a body portion, aclosure flap in connection with one end of said body portion having aninwardly projecting flange positionable between the cans of the firstand-second rows, a closure flap in connection with the other end of saidbody portion having an inwardly projecting flange positionable betweenthe cans of the third and fourth rows, auxiliary separating meanspositionable over the cans of the second and third rows and having aninwardly projecting flange positionable between the cans of said secondand third rows, and closure flaps in connection with the sides of thebody portion foldable over said end closure flaps and over saidauxiliary separating means to close the container.

5. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, and closure flaps in connection with said body portion, atleast one of said closure .flaps being provided with an inwardlyprojecting flange positioned for insertion between certain of the canswithin the container to maintain the same out of contact with oneanother, and said closure flap being diecut to provide inwardly bendablecan-separating flanges extending at right-angles to the firstvideinwardly bendable can-separating tongues extending at right-angles tothe lines of scoring which define the flange.

7. A shipping container of a size to hold one or more layers of canswith four rows of cans in each layer comprising a body portion, aclosure flap in connection with one end of said body portion having aninwardly projecting flange positionable between the cans of the firstand secnd rows, a closure flap in connection with the other end of saidbody portion having an inwardly projecting flange positionable betweenthe cans of the third and fourth rows, auxiliary separating meanspositionable over the cans of the second and third rows and havinginwardly projecting can-separating means, and closure flaps inconnection with the sides of the body portion foldable over said endclosure flaps and over said auxiliary separating means to close thecontainer.

8. A shipping container of a size to hold one or more layers of canswith four rows of cans in each layer comprising a body portion, aclosure flap in connection with one end of said body portion having aninwardly projecting flange positionable between the cans ofthe first andsecond rows and having other inwardly projecting flanges extending atright-angles to said lastmentioned flange and positionable between the"individual cans of said first row, a closure flap in connection withthe other end of said body portion having an inwardly projecting flangepositionable between the cans of the third and fourth rows and havingother inwardly projecting flanges extending at right-angles to saidlast-mentioned flange and positionable between the individual cans ofsaid fourth row, auxiliary separating means positionable over the cansof the second and third rows and having inwardly projectingcan-separating means, and closure flaps in connection with the sides ofthe body portion ioldable over said end closure flaps and over saidauxiliary separating means to close the container.

9. A shipping container of a size to hold one or more layers of canswith four rows of cans in each layer comprising a body portion, aclosure flap in connection with one end of said body portion having aninwardly projecting flange positionable between the cans of the firstand second rows and having other inwardly projecting flanges extendingat right-angles to said last-mentioned flange and positionable betweenthe individual cans of said first row, a closure flap in connection withthe other end of said body portion having an inwardly projecting flangepositionable between the cans of the third and fourth rows and havingother inwardly projecting flanges extending at right-angles to saidlast-mentioned flange and positionable between the individual cans ofsaid fourth row, auxiliary separating means positionable over the cansof the second and third rows having an inwardly projecting flangepositionable between the cans of said second and third rows and havingother inwardly projecting flanges extending at right-angles to saidlast-mentioned flange and positionable between the individual cans ofsaid second and third rows, and closure flaps in connection with thesides of the body portion foldable over said end closure flaps and oversaid auxiliary separating means to close the container.

10. A can-separating device for use in a shipping container for cannedgoods comprising a body portion positionable over the cans in acontainer and having inwardly projecting means insertable between rowsof cans in the container, said body portion being die-cut on each sideof said inwardly projecting means to provide other inwardly bendableseparating tongues extending at right-angles to said first-mentionedinwardly extending means.

11. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havingtransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over the contents of the container, a separatingmember positioned over the contents of the container between saidtransverse portions of said end flaps, said separating member having anopening cut therein, a tongue extending transversely of the containerand projecting inwardly from said opening for separating articles withinthe container, and side closure flaps foldable over said end closureflaps and over said separating member.

12. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havingtransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over the contents of the container, a separatingmember positioned over the contents of the container between saidtransverse portions of said end flaps, saidv separating member beingdie-cut to provide an inwardly bendable tongue for separating articleswithin the container, and side closure flaps foldable over said andclosure flaps and over said separating member.

13. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havingtransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over the contents oi the container, a separatingmember positioned over the contents of the container between saidtransverse portions of said end flaps, said separating member beingdie-cut to provide an elongated slot extending transversely of thecontainer and to provide a tongueformed from the cut material andbendable inwardly from an edge of said slot for separating articleswithin the container, and side closure flaps foldable over said endclosure flaps and over said separating member.

14. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havintransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over an the contents of the container, aseparating member positioned over the contents of the container betweensaid transverse portions of said end flaps, said separating memberhaving an opening cut therein, a tongue extending transversely oi thecontainer and projecting inwardly from said opening for separatingarticles within the container, said separating member having otherinwardly projecting tongues extending at rightangies to saidfirst-mentioned tongue for additionally separating articles within thecontainer, and side closure flaps foldable over said end closure flapsand over said separating member.

15. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havingtransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over the contents of the container, a separatingmember-positioned over the contents of the container between saidtransverse portions of said end flaps, said separating member having anopening cut therein, a tongue extending transversely of the containerand projecting inwardly from said opening for separating articles withinthe container, said separating member and end flaps having otherinwardly projecting tongues extending at right-angles to thefirst-mentioned tongue of the separating member for additionallyseparating articles within the container, and side closure flapsfoldable over said end closure and over said separating member.

16. A shipping container for canned goods or the like comprising a bodyportion, end closure flaps in connection with said body and havingtransverse portions at their swinging ends which are spaced apart whensaid flaps are folded over the contents of the container, a separatingmember positioned over the contents of the container between saidtransverse portions of said end flaps, a tongue which is L-shaped incross-section having a portion connected to the separating member to liein the plane thereof and having a portion projecting inwardly toseparate articles within the container, and side closure flaps foldableover said end closure flaps and over said separating member.

CLARENCE A. WHITE.

EARL L. BEGIN.

